Hampshire residents can now borrow blood pressure monitors from their local library, alongside books and magazines. In a move to help local people to take charge of their own health. The County Council is making devices available for free at all its libraries.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “If left untreated, high blood (hypertension) can lead to strokes, heart attacks, coronary heart disease and heart failure. But, worryingly, a third of people in the UK who are affected, are unaware. We want to make it easy and convenient for people to ‘know their numbers’. Particularly as one in four of us have high blood pressure. Borrowing a monitor from a library is a simple way of checking if yours is too high or too low and then taking action.

“As the local Public Health authority for Hampshire. The County Council has a duty to improve the health of residents, which is why we are supporting initiatives like these. That empower people to take control of their health and wellbeing.”

Each monitor is borrowed on a ‘first come-first served’ basis. It comes in a box, with a leaflet containing easy-to-follow instructions on how to use the device and understand the results. As well as what to do if you are concerned about the readings.

How to borrow a monitor:

  • Join your local library for free. See the Hampshire Libraries website for details: www.hants.gov.uk/library
  • Borrow a monitor for up to 14 days at a time. Hampshire’s 40 library branches will have three devices each.
  • Return your monitor after the loan period.

Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Education, Councillor Steve Forster, said: “This is a fantastic example of how our libraries are providing a growing range of vital community services. In addition to printed and online resources. We host a wide range of initiatives aimed at supporting wellbeing. Our libraries offer a warm and welcome environment, where people feel at ease. Which makes them the perfect places for providing certain health and well-being services.”

Anyone who is concerned about their own or a loved one’s blood pressure should seek advice from a medical professional. For more information about blood pressure and hypertension visit the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/